Press having fluid supported drive conveyor



United States Patent Inventor Lawrence Allan Carlsmith Amherst, New Hampshire Appl. No. 752,632

Filed Aug. 14, 1968 Patented Oct. 6, 1970 Assignee Improved Machinery Inc.

Nashua, New Hampshire a corporation of Delaware PRESS HAVING FLUID SUPPORTED DRIVE CONVEYOR 16 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 100/118, 100/151 Int. Cl B30b 9/24, B30b 5/04 Field of Search 100/1 18,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,778,342 10/1930 Thompson 100/118X 1,997,611 4/1935 Thompson 100/120X 2,263,343 11/1941 Thompson 100/120 2,382,453 8/1945 Thompson 100/118X 3,381,609 5/1968 Malarkey 100/ 1 2 l X 3,453,951 7/1969 Malarkeynn' 100/118 Primary Examiner- Peter Feldman An0rneys-Carl R. Horten, David W. Tibbott and Robert R.

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9a uo PRESS HAVING FLUID SUPPORTED DRIVE CONVEYOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to presses and more particu larly to presses of the type wherein material is pressed by being transported through a processing chamber of diminishing dimension.

Recently, there has been developed a new and improved press which is particularly adapted for pressing material by conveying the latter through a processing chamber of diminishing side-to-side dimension. This press, as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,38l,609 entitled Filter Press, issued May 7, I968, comprises a plurality of drive conveyors or conveying belts arranged to form side walls of a processing chamber and caused to converge by pressure platens such that the processing chamber narrows as it extends longitudinally between the conveying belts. The conveying belts drive material therebetween through the processing chamber whereby the narrowing of the processing chamber produces a pressing action on the material.

It has been found that the output obtained from such a press can be increased by either increasing the width and/or length of the processing chamber, increasing the pressing load, and/or increasing the speed at which the conveying belts are driven through the processing chamber. However, when applied to the press constructed as disclosed in said patent, these increases result in an augmented frictional engagement between the conveying belts and the pressure platens which greatly reduces the fatigue life of the conveying belts.

SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved press of this general type which is particularly constructed and arranged to minimize the frictional engagement between a component drive conveyor and the platen along which it extends.

This object, and those other objects and advantages of the invention which will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, are attained by the provision of a press comprising a plurality of walls forming opposing sides of a processing chamber of diminishing side-to-side dimension. At least one of these walls includes a drive conveyor having one side face bounding the processing chamber and another side face remote from the processing chamber, the drive conveyor being movable for transporting material through the processing chamber. A platen means is positioned to extend along the aforementioned other side face of the drive conveyor for at least a portion of the length of the latter; and means are provided for supplying pressurized fluid intermediate such other side face and the platen means whereby the pressurized fluid provides therebetween a fluid cushion which supports the drive conveyor on the platen means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings:

FIG. I is an elevational side view of a press constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on Line 2-2 of FIG. I, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is an elevational sectional view showing the processing chamber of the press illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view showing one of the platens of the press illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an elevationalview generally similar to FIG. 4, but showing an alternative form of platen; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on Line 6-6 of FIG. 5, looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates a press designated generally as 10 which, as illustrated, is particularly constructed and arranged for separating liquid from a liquidsolid mixture. The press 10 comprises a supporting frame including a substantially vertical supporting post 12 ground mounted by a base 14. The supporting post 12 carries a pair of elongated, opposed, substantially upright frame sections 16, 18 which are connected to the supporting post 12 by suitable bracket structure (not shown) on the opposite side of the press 10 from that shown in FIG. 1. The frame sections l6, 18 are interconnected on each side of the press 10 by a plurality of strain rods 20 which adjacent their opposing ends extend through sleeves 22 rigidly mounted on the frame sections l6, 18. The frame sections 16, 18 are spaced a predetermined distance apart by spacers (not shown) and are held in this spaced relationship by lock nuts 24 threaded on the opposite ends of the strain rods 20.

The press 10 also includes a pair of generally imperforate, endless drive conveyors or conveying belts 26, 28 having opposed vertical reaches 26a, 28a which extend in spaced relationship between the frame sections 16, 18. The reaches 26a, 28a include adjacent side faces 30, 32 forming opposing side walls of an elongated, vertical pressing or processing chamber 34, and also have remote side faces 36, 38 remote from the processing chamber 34. The drive conveyor 26 is entrained around drums or rolls 40, 42 which are rotatably mounted at the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the frame section 16; and the drive conveyor 28 is similarly entrained on rotatably mounted drums or rolls 44, 46 at the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the frame section 18. The rolls 40, 44 are mounted by stub shafts 48 which are supported by bearing blocks 50 vertically adjustable by threaded adjustment means designated generally as 52. The rolls 40, 44 are eccentrically arranged relative to the stub shafts 48; and the latter each are connected to one end of an arm 54 having a depending weight 56 at its opposing end. Thus, as more fully explained in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,381,609, the weights 56 and the eccentric mechanisms function as belt tensioning means operable to maintain proper tension in the drive conveyors 26, 28.

The drive conveyors 26, 28 are longitudinally driven such that their reaches 260, 2811 move downwardly between the frame sections l6, 18. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. I, a drive motor 58 is connected through a gear reduction unit 60 and a drive chain 62 to rotatably drive the roll 42 such that the drive conveyor 26 is driven in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1. Similarly, a drive motor 64 is connected through a gear reduction unit 66 and a drive chain 68 to rotatably drive the roll 46 such that the drive conveyor 28 is driven in a clockwise direction, again as viewed in FIG. 1.

The frame section 16 rigidly carries a generally vertical, platen assembly or means designated generally as 70 which, as illustrated in FIG. I, narrows in cross section as it extends upwardly. The frame section 18 rigidly carries a similar, generally vertical, platen assembly or means designated generally as 72 which also narrows in cross section as it extends upwardly. The platen means 70, 72 are positioned in opposing relationship immediately adjacent the remote side faces 36, 38 of the reaches 260, 28a of the drive conveyors 26, 28, respectively, and the latter suitably tensioned such that-the platen means 70, 72 cause the reaches 260, 28a to converge as they extend downwardly. Thus, the processing chamber 34 is resultantly formed of diminishing side-to-side dimension as it extends downwardly between the reaches 26a, 28a

An endless filter belt 74 is longitudinally positioned around the drive conveyor 26 and connected to the latter to be longitudinally driven thereby in the aforesaid counterclockwise direction of the movement of the drive conveyor 26. The filter belt 74 includes a vertical reach 74a which extends through the processing chamber 34 and overlays the reach 260 of the drive conveyor 26. The filter belt 74 extends over the rolls 40, 42 and is tensioned by a roll 76 mounted upon an adjustable supporting bracket 78 such that the reach 74a is drawn into engagement with the side face 30 of the reach 260. Similarly an endless filter belt 80 is longitudinally positioned around the drive conveyor 28 and connected to be longitudinally driven thereby in-the clockwise direction of the movement of the drive conveyor 28. The filter belt 80 includes a vertical reach 80a extending through the processing chamber 34 in overlaying relationship to the reach 28a ofthe drive conveyor 28, and extends around the rolls 44, 46 and a roll 82 carried by an adjustable supporting bracket 84 such that the reach 80a is drawn into engagement with the side face 32 of the reach 28a.

The filter belts 74, 80 may be of any suitable filtering material such as, by way of specific example, layered nylon or other fabric composition. The filter belts 74, 80 are, however, of narrower width than the drive conveyors 26, 28 and are located centrally thereof. The liquid-solid mixture to be processed by the press is supplied to the upper end of the processing chamber 34 between the reaches 74a, 80a of the filter belts 74, 80 by a supply conduit or duct 86.

A liquid collector is provided for collecting liquid separated from a liquid-solid mixture in the processing chamber 34. This collector is substantially identical to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,381,609 and, hence, is only generally hereinafter described. As illustrated, the collector is positioned between the reaches 26a, 28a of the drive conveyors 26, 28 and comprises elongated outer webs 88 which are arranged to extend longitudinally along opposing sides of the processing chamber 34 throughout the length of the latter. The webs 88, as will be noted, are provided with elongated sealing strips 90 engaging the reaches 26a, 28a and cooperate with such sealing strips 90 to form elongated flow barriers for sealing their respective sides of the processing chamber 34. lnwardly of each web 88 is positioned an elongated flange 92 which extends the length of the processing chamber 34 and is spaced from its respective adjacent web 88 by an elongated recess or pocket 94 also extending the length of the processing chamber 34. The flanges 92 each carry a plurality of baffle elements 96 engaging the adjacent edges of the filter belts 74, 80 and preventing solid material from passing into the pockets 94. The flanges 92 are, however, sufficiently spaced from the drive conveyors 26, 28 to permit liquid accepted by the filter belts 74, 80 to flow into the pockets 94. A fluid conveying hose 98 is connected to the upper end of each of the pockets 94 and discharges the liquid therefrom.

From the preceding description it will be seen that a liquidsolid mixture to be processed by the press 10 is supplied to the upper end of the processing chamber 34 by the supply duct 86. It will, moreover, be seen that liquid separated from the mixture in the processing chamber 34 is discharged through a passage means comprising the pockets 94 and hoses 98. The solid material remaining between the filter belts 74, 80 is removed from the latter by a pair of scraper blades 100 and falls by gravity onto an endless conveying belt 102 which transports it from the press 10.

ln accordance with the present invention, the reaches 260, 28a of the drive conveyors 26, 28 are supported on the platen means 70, 72 such that frictional engagement between the drive conveyors 26, 28 and the platen means 70, 72 is minimized. This is accomplished by supplying a fluid lubricant at a relatively high pressure (i.e.:a pressure in the range of 1,000 to 3,000 psi) between the side faces 36, 38 of the reaches 26a, 28a and the platen means 70, 72, whereby the pressurized lubricant provides therebetween fluid cushions which support the drive conveyors 26, 28 on the platen means 70, 72.

More particularly, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the platen means 70 is formed to include a platen body element 104 directly mounted on the frame section 16, and a plurality of vertically extending, elongated, platen plate elements 106 carried by the body element 104. The body element 104 is bored to include a plurality of flow passages 108 which extend transversely therethrough at vertically spaced locations throughout its length; and the flow passages 108 are serially interconnected by elbow piping 110 such that the flow passages 108 and the elbow piping 110 cooperate to form a single continuous fluid passage. The uppermost flow passage 108 is connected at one end to a fluid supply hose 112 which communicates with a tank or reservoir (not shown) asuitable, high pressure lubricant such as oil, water, glycol, or the like. The lowermost fluid passage 108 is connected at one end to a fluid discharge hose 114 which also communicates with such tank or reservoir for discharging lubricant thereto.

The plate elements 106 are each mounted on the side face of the body element 104 most adjacent to the side face 36 of the reach 26a by a plurality of threaded retainers 1 18, and are spaced by vertically extending collecting or drainage grooves 116. The plate elements 106 each extend almost the entire length of the body element 104 and are sufiicient in number to substantially cover its width. The plate elements 106 are each dished to include a plurality of concave portions or recesses 120 peripherally defined by walls or ribs 121 and opposing the side face 36 of the reach 261: such that the side face 126 of the platen means 70 opposing such side face 36 includes a plurality of recesses. The threaded retainers 118 each include an internal passage 122 which communicates with one of the flow passages 108 and terminates in a relatively small orifice or nozzle 128 arranged to discharge lubricant to a respective one of the recesses 120.

The platen means 72 is constructed and connected identically to the platen means 70. Hence, the parts of the platen means 72 shown on the drawings have been designated by the reference character for the corresponding part of the platen means 70 followed by the suffix b; and, as will be seen, the pressurized lubricant is also supplied intermediate the side face 136 of the platen means 72 and the side face 38 of the drive conveyor 28. In addition, a collecting tray or trough 130 is positioned below the processing chamber 34 and communicates through a fluid discharge hose 132 with the tank or reservoir containing the lubricant supplied to the fluid supply hoses 112.

In the operation of the beforedescribed press 10, the drive conveyors 26, 28 are continuously driven by the drive motors 58, 64 such that they, in turn, continuously drive the reaches 74a, a of the filter belts 74, 80 downwardly through the processing chamber 34. The liquid-solid mixture to be processed by the press 10 is continuously pumped through the supply conduit 86 into the upper end of the processing chamber 34 where the platen means 70, 72 (and hence the drive conveyors 26, 28 and filter belts 74, 80) are spaced a substantial distance apart. As the reaches 74a, 80a of the filter belts 74, 80 move downwardly through the processing chamber 34, they carry this mixture with them. Thus, as they progressively converge in the processing chamber 34, liquid or filtrate is pressed out of the liquid-solid mixture and flows through the filter belts 74, 80 into the pockets 94 from whence it is discharged through the fluid conveying hoses 98. The solids in the mixture, being unable to pass through the filter belts 74, 80, remain entrapped therebetween and, after being so tightly compacted as to separate substantially all liquid therefrom, are carried downwardly below the processing chamber 34 thereby. These solids are removed from the filter belts 74, 80 by the scrapers and fall by gravity upon the conveying belt 102 which transports them from the press 10.

Throughout the operation of the press 10, pressurized lubricant is supplied through the fluid supply hoses 112 to the passages formed by the flow passages 108, 10811 and elbow piping 110, 11017. As this lubricant flows through such passages, portions of it pass into the supply passages 122, 122b in the threaded retainers 118, 118b and are discharged through the orifices or nozzles 128, 128b into the recesses 120, b and between the side faces 126, 136 of the platen means 70, 72 and the side faces 36, 38 of the drive conveyors 26, 28. These portions of the fluid, as will be seen, provide between the side faces 126, 136 and the side faces 36, 38 fluid cushions which support the drive conveyors 26, 28 on the platen means 70, 72. The pressurized lubricant forming these fluid cushions flows over the ribs 121, 121b into the collecting grooves 116, 1l6b and then drains to the collecting tray 130 from whence it is discharged by the fluid .discharge hose 132. The portion of the pressurized lubricant passing completely through the passages formed by the flow passages 108, l08b and the elbow piping 110, 11012, of course, is returned to the tank or reservoir by the fluid discharge hoses 114.

FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein parts similar to those of the platen means 70 are designated by the reference character for their previously described similar part followed by the suffix c, illustrates a platen means 134 which could be substituted for either, or both, of the platen means 70, 72. The platen means 134, as will be noted, is different from the platen means 70 only in that it substitutes elongated plate elements 138 for the plate elements 106. The plate elements 138 are arranged in juxtaposed or side-by-side relationship and each extend substantially the length of the body element 1046 of the platen means 134. The plate elements 138 do not contain any recesses similar to the before described recesses of the plate elements 106, 106b.

The operation of a press including the platen means 134 is believed to be apparent from the aforegoing description.

Although the proceeding description and the accompanying drawings only specifically describe two embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that these embodiments have been given by way of illustration only and that the invention is not limited to these embodiments, but rather contemplates other embodiments and variations within the scope of the following claims.

lclaim:

1. A press comprising:

a plurality of walls forming opposing sides of a processing 7 chamber of diminishing side-to-side dimension;

at least one of said walls including a drive conveyor having one side face bounding the processing chamber and another side face remote from the processing chamber, said drive conveyor being movable for transporting material through the processing chamber;

platen means extending along said other side face of said drive conveyor; and

means for supplying pressurized fluid intermediate said platen means and said other side face of said drive conveyor whereby the pressurized fluid provides therebetween a fluid cushion which supports said drive conveyor on said platen means.

2. A press according to claim 1, further comprising said pressurized fluid supply means including passage means in said platen means whereby the pressurized fluid is supplied through said platen means.

- 3. A press according to claim 1, further comprising drainage passage means in said platen means for discharging the pressurized fluid from between said platen means and said other side face of said drive conveyor.

4. A press according to claim 1, further comprising said pressurized fluid supply means including passage means in said platen means arranged to discharge the pressurized fluid between said platen means and said other side face of said drive conveyor at a plurality of locations spacedalong the length and width of said platen means.

5. A press according to claim 1, further comprising said platen means including a plurality of recesses, and said pressurized fluid supply means including passage means in said platen means for supplying pressurized fluid to said recesses.

6. A press according to claim 5, further comprising drainage passage means in said platen means intermediate said recesses for discharging the pressurized fluid from between said platen means and said other side face of said drive conveyor.

7. A press comprising:

a plurality of longitudinally driven, drive conveyors having opposed reaches spaced to include adjacent side faces forming opposing side walls of a processing chamber and remote side faces remote from the processing chamber;

platen means having a side face adjacent the remote side face of one of said drive conveyor reaches and causing said one reach to extend towards the other drive conveyor reach whereby the processing chamber is formed of diminishing side-to-side dimension;

a first filter belt in the processing chamber and overlaying said adjacent side face of said one reach, said first filter belt being connected to said one reach to be driven by the latter longitudinally through the processing chamber;

a second filter belt in the processing chamber and overlaying said adjacent side face of said other reach, said second filter belt being connected to said other reach to be driven by the latter through the processing chamber;

passage means for discharging liquid flowing through said filter belts;

elongated flow barriers at the other sides of the processing chamber; and

means for supplying pressurized fluid intermediate said remote side face of said one reach and said side face of said platen means whereby the pressurized fluid provides therebetween a fluid cushion which supports said one reach on said platen means.

8. A press according to claim 7, further comprising said pressurized fluid supply means including passage means in said platen means whereby the pressurized fluid is supplied through said platen means.

9. A press according to claim 8, further comprising drainage passage means in said platen means for discharging the pressurized fluid from between said side face of said platen mean and said remote side face of said one reach.

10. A press according to claim 7, further comprising said pressurized fluid supply means including passage means in said platen means arranged to discharge the pressurized fluid between said side face of said platen means and said remote side face of said one reach at a plurality of locations spaced along the length and width of said platen means.

11. A press according to claim 7, further comprising said side face of said platen means including a plurality of recesses, and said pressurized fluid supply means including passage means in said platen means for supplying pressurized fluid to said recesses.

12. A press according to claim 11, further comprising drainage passage means in said platen means intermediate said recesses for discharging the pressurized fluid from between said side face of said platen means and said remote side face of said one reach.

13. A press comprising:

a plurality of longitudinally driven, drive conveyors having opposed reaches spaced to include adjacent side faces forming opposing sides of a processing chamber and remote side faces remote from the processing chamber;

first platen means having a side face adjacent the remote I side face of one of said drive conveyor'reaches;

second platen means having a side face adjacent the remote side face of the other of said drive conveyor reaches;

said first and second platen means cooperating to cause said reaches to converge whereby the processing chamber is formed of diminishing side-to-side dimension in the direction of the convergence of said reaches;

a first filter belt in the processing chamber and overlaying said adjacent side face of said one reach, said first filter belt being connected to said one reach to be driven by the latter longitudinally through the processing chamber;

a second filter belt in the processing chamber and overlaying said adjacent side face of said other reach, said second filter belt being connected to said other reach to be driven by the latter longitudinally through the processing chamber;

passage means for discharging liquid flowing through said filter belts;

elongated flow barriers at the other sides of the processing chamber; and

means for supplying pressurized fluid intermediate the remote side face of each of said reaches and the side face of the platen means there adjacent, whereby the pres- 15. A press according to claim 13, further comprising said 10 side faces of said platen means including a plurality of recesses, and said pressurized fluid supply means including passage means in said platen means for supplying pressurized fluid to said recesses.

16. A press according to claim 15, further comprising drainage passage means in said platen means intermediate said recesses for draining the pressurized fluid supplied by said pressurized fluid supply means. 

